Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu plans to launch a 'bus yatra' in Vizianagaram district on August 25 seeking "justice" to all regions of the state in the wake of Congress' decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and create a separate Telangana state.

"Congress has once again hurt the self-respect of Telugus by unilaterally deciding to divide Andhra Pradesh only to serve its political vested interests. "As TDP is the only party that protects the self-respect and pride of Telugus, I have a responsibility to fulfil. I will go to the people and expose Congress' game, besides also those of TRS as well as YSR Congress," Chandrababu said, announcing his decision to undertake the tour.

Chandrababu Naidu. AFP.

Chandrababu discussed tour details with senior TDP leaders this evening and asked his party's Vizianagaram unit to make the necessary arrangements. The tour has been christened the "Aatmagourava Yatra" as Chandrababu's call is to safeguard the "self-respect" of Telugu-speaking people.

In seven days, his tour would cover nine assembly constituencies in Vizianagaram district starting from Kothavalasa. Chandrababu will be the first leader reaching out to the people amidst a surcharged atmosphere in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions against the proposed bifurcation of the state.

He plans to cover Vizianagaram, Srikakulam in north coastal Andhra, Prakasam and SPS Nellore districts in south coastal Andhra as well as Chittoor and Kadapa in Rayalaseema. He will also tour Hyderabad which has now become the bone of contention in the bifurcation saga.

Maintaining that TDP remains committed to its stand on the bifurcation issue, Chandrababu pointed out that he was only demanding justice to be done to 'new' Andhra Pradesh in terms of water-sharing and other contentious issues. The TDP chief, who toured 16 out of 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh on foot between October and April to study the problems of people, will cover the rest of the districts during his bus yatra.